Italian Hero Loaf Recipes

ITALIAN HERO SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, oregano, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Stir to mix well.
• Whisk in the olive oil until incorporated.
• On a work surface, lay out 3 long pieces of plastic wrap, placing them side by side and slightly overlapping.
• Place the bottom half of the loaf over the wrap.
• Spread the pepperoncini and cherry peppers over the bread.
• Scatter evenly with the lettuce and layer with the tomatoes.
• Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the dressing.
• Layer the meats, one at a time, over the tomatoes, making sure to distribute them evenly.
• Top with a layer of provolone cheese.
• Drizzle the remaining dressing over the cut side of the top of the loaf.
• Place on the layered sandwich and enclose in the plastic.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or for up to 4 hours to develop the flavors.
• To serve, unwrap the sandwich and slice into large pieces about 3 to 4 inches wide.

ITALIAN HERO BRAID

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble Italian sausage until no longer pink, 4-6 minutes; drain., Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in warm water. In another bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour and butter; add yeast mixture. Beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 13x10-in. rectangle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Layer cheese and salami slices down center of rectangle; top with crumbled sausage and shredded cheddar. On each long side, cut 1-in.-wide strips about 2 in. into the center. Starting at 1 end, fold alternating strips at an angle across filling. Pinch both ends to seal., Whisk egg white; brush over pastry. Bake until golden brown, 25-30 minutes.

MOM'S ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide in half. Shape each portion into a loaf. Place each loaf seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°. With a sharp knife, make 4 shallow slashes across top of each loaf. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

ITALIAN STYLE MEATLOAF I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs and ketchup. Season with Italian-style seasoning, oregano, basil, garlic salt, diced tomatoes and cheese. Press into a 9x5 inch loaf pan, and cover loosely with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven approximately 1 hour, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F (70 degrees C).

SIX-FOOT MEATLESS ITALIAN HERO

Steps:

• Wash and dry bell peppers, iceberg, tomatoes, celery hearts and parsley.
• Grind artichokes in a food processor with the peeled garlic and a pinch or 2 of salt, until largely puréed but still textural, like tapenade. If a little loosening is needed, blend in a glug of olive oil.
• Using a sharp knife, shave celery crosswise. Transfer to a medium bowl, and add the artichoke purée. Season assertively with salt and pepper, plus a nice long drizzle of olive oil; toss well and then set aside.
• Slice everything else that was washed and dried into the thinnest slices you can manage. Thinly slice the red onions into rings, then cut the rings in half to create half-moons. (Full rings of thinly sliced red onion have a tendency to become stringy as they wilt inside a sandwich, creating a bit of a choking hazard.)
• When ready to assemble the sandwich (at least 1 hour before eating, though the assembled sandwich can sit up to 12 hours in a cool place), chop the parsley, and stir it into the artichoke-and-celery mixture. Taste that the mixture is highly seasoned to your liking.
• Set up an efficient workstation with enough counter space for the bread, and have all your mise en place in neat containers in front of you. If possible, put the vinegar, oil and mayonnaise into squeeze bottles, just as they do at delis and salad bars. Wear gloves to make separating slices of cheese and onion and tomatoes while assembling more "grippy."
• Hinge the bread horizontally without slicing all the way through. Be assertive in butterflying the loaf open - like breaking the spine on an open book - in order for it to lie flat enough to receive all the fillings without your having to hold it open along the way.
• Build by overlapping the ingredients, or "shingling" them, along the central channel of the hinged loaf in the following order: cheese, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, artichoke-and-celery mixture, red onions, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, jalapeños and cubanelle peppers.
• Generously salt and pepper the whole thing, then zigzag squiggles of mayonnaise, squirts of vinegar and olive oil. Finish with a light dusting of oregano.
• Squeeze the sandwich closed, and insert 8-inch wooden skewers, driving them in diagonally to prevent the sandwich from springing back open. Trim a couple of inches off each end, then serve and slice to order.

ITALIAN HEROES

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, combine the artichoke hearts, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Slice the sandwich rolls in half lengthwise, and pull out most of the soft bread from the top and bottom. Spread the artichoke paste onto each side of each roll. Place layers of red peppers, arugula, salami, provolone cheese, pepperoncini, olives and onion into the rolls. Press sandwiches together, and wrap tightly in aluminum foil.
• Place sandwiches in the refrigerator, and place something heavy on top. It helps to place a plate on top, then place cans or any weighted containers on top. I used cottage cheese. Chill for up to 3 hours. Unwrap, cut in half and enjoy.

ITALIAN STYLE HERO

Steps:

• Add meats and cheese to roll. Top with lettuce and tomato. Pour on oil and vinegar mix. Spread mustard and mayonnaise on roll, close and serve.

ITALIAN HERO LOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 C flour, sugar, yeast, seasoning and salt.
• Gradually add oil and water, beating with whisk or mixer on low till well mixed.
• Add in remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Knead dough till smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Cover with a towel and let rest 10 minutes.
• Roll dough into a 14X10 rectangle, and layer deli meats and cheese down center third of dough from end to end.
• With a sharp knife, make slits on both outer thirds of the dough about one inch apart.
• Alternating sides, fold the strips over filling at an angle,"braiding" the dough.
• Preheat oven to 400 and let loaf rise till the oven is ready.
• Bake till golden, about 25 minutes.

ITALIAN HERO LOAF

Steps:

• Set aside one cup flour. In large bowl of mixer, mix remaining flour, sugar, salt, and yeast. Stir in hot water and margarine. Mix in only enough reserved flour to make soft dough. Allow mixer to knead dough an additional 4 minutes. On greased baking sheet, roll dough into 10x14-inch rectangle. Layer ham, provolone, and salami over center third of dough length; top with pimentos and olives. Make cuts from filling to dough edges at 1-inch intervals along sides of filling. Alternating sides, fold strips at an angle across filling; cover. Place large shallow pan on counter; half fill with boiling water. Place baking sheet over pan; let dough rise 15 minutes. Brush loaf with egg white; sprinkle with sesame seed. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or till done. Cool slightly; serve warm with Italian dressing, if desired. Refrigerate leftovers; reheat to serve.